KOZHIKODE:
Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials are conducting raids at the residences of the leaders of
the Popular Front of India
(PFI) at various places in
Kerala.
Raids are being carried out at the residences of PFI chairman O M A Salam, national secretary Nasarudeen Elamaram in Malappuram and
Karamana Ashraf Moulavi
in Poonthura in
Thiruvananthapuram and PFI’s office in Kozhikode.
Though there is no official information about the intention of the raids, it is believed that the searches are part of the investigation into the alleged links the PFI had to the anti-CAA protests in Delhi and violent incidents after the death of a Dalit girl in Hathras in UP.
ED started an investigation against the PFI alleging that there were dubious deposits in the accounts of the organisation and the money was withdrawn during the time of anti-CAA protests.
UP police also blamed the PFI for fanning riots in the state during the protests of rape of a Dalit girl. They arrested Siddique Kappan, Delhi-based Malayalee journalist, who was on his way to Hathras to report the developments on October 5. Police had told the court that Kappan is a PFI activist and he had gone to Hathras to create trouble.
The ED raids began at around 9am simultaneously at the multiple locations.